Questions You Need Answered Before Using Shed Plans

For the novice builder it’s very important that you have everything in place before you start any project. Of course the best way to do this is to have an action plan. You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Plan your work and work your plan.” Well, there is a reason that saying has been around for so long and is still used: it’s great advice!

So you’ve decided you want to build a shed using a set of plans. The first thing to do is develop your action plan and put it into place. Start by listing a series of questions you will need answered before you even begin construction, such as:

1.What do you really need the shed for?
You may be thinking its going to be used to store just the garden equipment. Think hard about this. Is it going to end up being a family shed? In other words, are the kids going to want to store their sports equipment in there? Or is the wife going to find a new place for the Christmas decorations? So, make a hard and fast rule of what the shed will be used for from the beginning.

2.What size do you want it to be?
Now that you know exactly what your shed is going to be used for you should also have a good idea of the size of shed that you are going to need. Don’t forget to plan for the future. If your shed is restricted to garden and outdoor items you will most likely be adding to your collection over the next few years, so you don’t want to build small and then need to do it all over again in a few years.

3.Where are you going to put it?
You need to determine up front before you buy the first stick of wood the best place for your shed to sit. It has to be some place reasonably accessible ( you don’t want to walk a long ways with heavy equipment or walk through your flowerbeds to get to it). It probably needs to be tucked away so it doesn’t interfere with your landscaping and isn’t easily visible from the front of your house. Again thinking of the future, you don’t want to have to move it. Now, is the area you’ve decided on compatible with the size of the shed you want? If not, there has to be a compromise, either in the space or the size.

4.Does in need to be insulated, waterproof, or open?
If you are in a four season climate you need to decide what weather conditions and seasons you need the shed to be able to withstand the most. Are you building something for outdoor garden equipment that can stand some heat and moisture or do you truly need a well-insulated, water-proofed building?

5. Do you require a building permit?
Know what your local by-laws are for building a shed. It wouldn’t be nice to finish your project and then have a city/county inspector come along and tell you to take it down. Normally you won’t need a building permit if you stay within a specific size, but if you have determined to go larger than what’s allowed, you will have to submit building plans for approval.

6.Now, one of the most important questions, What is your budget for this project?
Generally, everything you’ve decided up to this point is dependent on your budget, yet it’s kind of difficult to set a budget when you haven’t determined your cost of materials. And it’s the budget that’s going to help you when it comes time to get your building shed plans. You probably have a rough idea of how much you want to spend, now you just need to see how much shed you can build for the money! The best way to do that? Pick you plan and look at the materials list. Without a good, accurate materials list things become a lot harder to estimate.

7.Where should you get your plans for building a shed?
You have lots of answers now: the purpose, the size, the budget, etc. Now, on to the final question. For this you will need to check out what resources are available to you. Your local home hardware and building center, home planners, and, of course, the internet. Just be aware that there are a lot of plans being sold, but not every plan or package of plans are equal in terms of value and accuracy. What are some of the most important things to look for? A wide range of ideas and projects, complete working blueprints, accurate materials list and full descriptions. Without these you are basically back at the beginning and may be better off buying that pre-made shed after all.